Social Sharing

Road To The Olympic Games

Romania, Belarus canoe teams banned from Olympics for doping

The International Canoe Federation has banned sprint teams from Romania and Belarus from the Rio de Janeiro Olympics for widespread doping. The ICF says its executive board imposed 1-year suspensions for both teams "with immediate effect."

ICF President Jose Perurena says "we will do everything within our powers to remove them [cheats] from our sport."

Olympic places will be reallocated by Monday's deadline after talks with the IOC and national Olympic bodies, the world canoeing body says.

The ICF says "systemic doping" by Romania's team with meldonium, an eastern European heart drug banned since January, was proven after 11 athletes tested positive at training in April. Five Belarus team members violated anti-doping rules at a training camp in France that is the subject of a criminal investigation.

Related Stories

Comments

To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.

By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.